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JIM Gem: A Sketch of Rev. Wood B. Cundiff (1898-1961)

Fossicking around through the research facilities of JIM, Worldwide, another JIM Gem is uncovered, a story about a Cane Valley native recalling his early life in Cane Valley for a newspaper story which appeared in a Northern Ohio newspaper and was later reprinted in the prestigious Adair County News. Rev. Wood B. Cundiff, studied at Columbia High School and was a graduate, and continued his studies at two of America's best post secondary schools, Bethany College and Oberlin School of Theology in Ohio, before entering on a life of service as an outstanding Disciples of Christ Christian church minister. - CM

By JIM

The following sketch of Adair Countian Rev. Wood B. Cundiff, written by Jean Weaver, appeared in the Saturday, Octoboer 18, 1947 edition of the Lorain Journal. Subsequently, the Adair County News reprinted it in the November 26, 1947 edition. (Lorain, Ohio, is located in northern part of the state on the shores of Lake Erie.) Wood B. Cundiff (1898-1961) was a son of Perry V. and Mary E. (Conover) Cundiff.



Wood Cundiff Recalls Days On Kentucky Farm

The following, written by Jean Weaver, for the Lorain Journal, Lorain, Ohio, Saturday, October 18, will be read with interest here:

A blacksmith shop where the kids used to sit around and "watch the sparks fly," a quiet farm in Kentucky, fishing, pheasant hunting, horseback riding and a one-room schoolhouse.

These are the boyhood memories of Rev. Wood B. Cundiff, pastor of the Christian Temple for nearly three years.

Mostly home school by brothers and sisters

Born in Cane Valley, Ky., Rev. Cundiff was five years old when the family moved to a farm. The youngest of a large family, he was taught most of his grade work by his brothers and sisters, who were the teachers at the country school.

His grade work completed, the pastor entered high school in Columbia, Ky., and when a senior, left school to enter the student army training corps at Bowling Green Teachers College, Bowling Green, Ky.

Returning to high school to complete his work after four months in the army training corps, Rev. Cundiff found that except for seven days, the school had been closed the entire time he was gone because of the flu epidemic.

The October 2, 1918 Adair County News noted that he and four others, all high school students, "left last week to enroll as military draft students in the State Normal School at Bowling Green." He was graduated from Columbia High School in 1919.

"I decided on the ministry as my life work while in high school and never changed my mind about it," Rev. Cundiff recalled today.

He received a classical A.B. degree from Bethany College, Bethany, W. Va., then entered the Oberlin [Ohio] graduate school of theology, where he received his bachelor of divinity degree in 1934.

Held several pastorates in Ohio

During his seminary studies he served churches in Denison, Ohio, and Waterford and Palmira churches in Knox Co., Ohio, and was a student minister in Zanesville [Ohio] a year and one-half after graduation.

He has also completed three summer courses at Ohio State University and two summer courses at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.

Rev. Cundiff came to Lorain in January, 1945, after serving nearly nine years as pastor in Crooksville, Ohio. He is president of the Lorain Ministerial Association for 1947-48 and served as treasurer of that group last year.

Was chairman of committee on inter-faith activities

He is also chairman of the committee on inter-faith activities of the Lorain Church federation.

His interests in hunting and fishing developed as a boy are still strong, especially fishing, and he is also a baseball and football fan. He's interested in gardening, although he doesn't have enough time for it right now.

"It was pretty tough to leave the radio while the World Series was going on this year," he admits.

Compiled by the venerable JIM, not Bede.


This story was posted on 2012-03-15 05:27:20
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